Types of Cancer
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in your body grow and divide without control. These abnormal cells can invade and destroy normal tissue, including organs. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with its own characteristics and treatment options.
Cells are the smallest units of the body that make up tissues and organs. Over your lifetime, trillions of cells continually develop and die as the body needs them. If something goes wrong and the cells keep developing or don’t die when they should, more cells will build up until they form a mass (a tumor). Cancers are classified by the anatomical extent of the disease at diagnosis using the UICC TNM staging system. This classification provides important information for patient care, cancer control and research.
Cancer can be prevented by lifestyle changes and by avoiding certain risk factors. These include tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and excessive exposure to sunlight or other sources of radiation. Vaccinations against viruses such as Hepatitis B and the Human Papillomavirus also reduce your risk of getting some cancers. Some genetic mutations that increase your risk of cancer can be passed from parent to child (inherited). Other genetic changes can occur due to environmental exposures or by chance during the course of a person’s life.
Genetic mutations that lead to cancer can affect three main groups of genes: proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes. These gene changes can happen naturally as the body grows and develops, or they may be caused by environmental factors such as smoking and sun exposure.
When these gene changes lead to cancer, they cause cells to ignore signals that normally tell the cells to stop growing or to die. The cells continue to grow and divide, and they also start to spread to other parts of the body by breaking away from the original cancer site and entering blood or lymph vessels. Cancers can also hide from the immune system, which normally eliminates damaged or rogue cells.
Many types of cancer can be detected with simple tests. These may include a physical exam, X-rays and blood tests. Many types of cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Your healthcare provider will select the treatment that is best suited to your specific type of cancer.
A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most frightening experiences you will ever face. But your healthcare providers will be with you every step of the way.
Cancer is a disease that occurs when cells in your body grow and divide without control. These abnormal cells can invade and destroy normal tissue, including organs. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, each with its own characteristics and treatment options. Cells are the smallest units of the body that make up tissues and organs. Over your lifetime, trillions of cells continually develop and die as the body needs them. If something goes wrong and the cells keep developing or don’t die when they should, more cells will build up until they form a mass (a tumor). Cancers are classified by the anatomical extent of the disease at diagnosis using the UICC TNM staging system. This classification provides important information for patient care, cancer control and research. Cancer can be prevented by lifestyle changes and by avoiding certain risk factors. These include tobacco use, physical inactivity, unhealthy eating habits and excessive exposure to sunlight or other sources of radiation. Vaccinations against viruses such as Hepatitis B and the Human Papillomavirus also reduce your risk of getting some cancers. Some genetic mutations that increase your risk of cancer can be passed from parent to child (inherited). Other genetic changes can occur due to environmental exposures or by chance during the course of a person’s life. Genetic mutations that lead to cancer can affect three main groups of genes: proto-oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes. These gene changes can happen naturally as the body grows and develops, or they may be caused by environmental factors such as smoking and sun exposure. When these gene changes lead to cancer, they cause cells to ignore signals that normally tell the cells to stop growing or to die. The cells continue to grow and divide, and they also start to spread to other parts of the body by breaking away from the original cancer site and entering blood or lymph vessels. Cancers can also hide from the immune system, which normally eliminates damaged or rogue cells. Many types of cancer can be detected with simple tests. These may include a physical exam, X-rays and blood tests. Many types of cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Your healthcare provider will select the treatment that is best suited to your specific type of cancer. A cancer diagnosis can be one of the most frightening experiences you will ever face. But your healthcare providers will be with you every step of the way.